High speed ignition point



May 24, 1960 M. w. ANDREWS 2,938,085

HIGH SPEED IGNITION POINT Filed March 6, 1959 l/VSULAT/ON I "EMU" 45 29 42 l3 5/ 34 INVENTOR.

48 1 MA Y/VARD W ANDREWS ATTORNEYS HIGH SPEED IGNITION POINT Maynard W. Andrews, 304 Caravan Ave, San Antonio, Tex.

Filed Mar. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 797,771 2 Claims. (Cl. 200-27) This invention relates to a vehicle ignition system, and more particularly to a distributor for a vehicle ignition system.

The object of the invention is to provide a vehicle electrical distributor wherein high speed bounce will be eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide high speed ignition points which can be used as a single contact type of device if desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide high speed ignition points which are extremely simple and inexpensiveto manufacture.

.Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the present invention, with parts broken away and in section;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral indicates the vehicle ignition electrical distributor of the present invention which is shown to comprise a hollow v housing 11, and the housing 11 includes a bottom wall 12 and a top member 13. The numeral 14 indicates the usual coil which is electrically connected to the vehicle battery 15, Figure 2. There is further provided spark plugs 16 which are mounted in the top of the engine cylinder 17 in the usual manner. The numeral 18 indicates a shaft which extends through the bottom wall 11, and an insulated member 19 is arranged on the upper end of the shaft 18. Terminals 20 and 21 extend through the top 13 of the housing 11.

Positioned in the housing 11 and mounted on the shaft 18 is a rotary cam which is indicated generally by the numeral 22, and the cam 22 includes a plurality of angularly arranged flat faces 23 which define shoulders 24 therebetween.

Connected to the bottom wall 12 is a pivot post 25 which has an insulated bushing 26 thereon, and the numeral 27 indicates a support member which is mounted on the bushing 26. A pair of angularly arranged spaced apart arms 28 extend from the support member 27 and are secured thereto or formed integral therewith. Each of the arms 28 carries a contact 29 for a purpose to be later described. An elongated rod or bolt 30 serves to connect the arms 28 together, and the rod 30 is provided with a threaded portion 31 which has a nut 32 thereon, Figure 1.

There is further provided a base member which is indicated generally by the numeral 33, and the base member 33 includes a pair of spaced apart angularly arranged 2,938,085 Patented May 24, 1960 spring members 34 which are interconnected by means the stops 37. The contacts 29 and 36 of a web portion 35. Contacts 36 are carried by the spring members 34, and the contacts 36 are mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the contacts 29, as later described in this application.

There is further provided a pair of spaced apart stop members 37, and as shown in Figure 1 for example the ends of the spring members 34 project beyond the ends of the arms 28, and the ends of the spring members 34 are adapted to selectively abut or engage the stop members 37. The stop members 37 each include a bottom portion 38 which is provided with a slot 39 through which extends a securing element 40 so that by loosening the securing element 40, the positions of thestop members 37 can be adjusted or changed as desired. Each of the stop members 37 includes an insulatedbumper 41 which is adapted to be engaged by the projecting end of the corresponding spring member 34.

An adjacent pair of members 28 and 34 are connected together by means of an insulated block 42, and the other pair of members 28 and 34 are connected together by a similar insulated block 43. The blocks 42 and 43 are provided with projections 44 and 45 for engagement by the cam 22 as the cam 22 rotates.

The numeral 46 indicates a pin which extends through the block 42, and the pin 46 has an insulated bushing 47 thereon, there being a wire or conductor 48 connecting the pin 46 to the coil 14. A conductor strip 49 serves to connect the pin 46 to the web portion 35 of the base member 33. t

A pin or rivet 50 having an insulated bushing 51 thereon extends through the block 43 and serves to connect the block 43 to the corresponding members 28 and 34.

The numeral 52 indicates a ground wire connection,

and the numerals 53 and 54 indicate wires which connect From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided an improved distributor for vehicle electrical ignition systems. moved. The present invention will eliminate high speed bounce and it is to be noted that springs are not used to return the contacts, but the-fixed contact arms 28 are used andthere is provided the two rubbing blocks 42 and 43 as well as the spring contacts 34 which operate against remain closed by the springs 34 unless opened by the insulated stops 41. In firing positions, a contact spring 34 starts to close while the other spring 34 starts to open, and as soon as one spring moves its contact 36 away from its corresponding contact 29, the other contact 36 moves towards the contact 29 contiguous thereto. This starts the current through the primary of the coil 14. The present invention can also be used as a single contact by changing the positions of the rubbing blocks 42 and 43.

By adjusting the nut 32 on the bolt 30, the relative position or coaction of the blocks 42 and 43 with respect to the cam 22 can be changed or regulated as desired.

By loosening the screw 40, the position of the stop members 37 can be adjusted or regulated as desired. The wire 52 functions as a ground connection, and electrical current can pass through the wire 48, through the pin 46, through the strip 49, then through the web portion 35, and with the parts in the position of Figure 1, this electric current can then pass through the closed contacts, 36 and 29 on the right side of Figure 1, and then through In Figure 1 the cover 13 is shown 10-- tion 44 is being engaged by one of the shoulders 24, and this has the efiect of moving the spring 34 a sufficient distance so that its outer end engages the member 41 of the stop 37 whereby the corresponding contacts 36 and 29 will be separated so as to interrupt the circuit through this part of the mechanism. The right side pair should be open when the left side opens. The coil fires only on the break of the circuit, and one pair of points will open in advance of the other pair.

In operation, the points on the left side of Figure 1 do all of the firing of the coil. Starting with the points as in the position of Figure l, the left side points are open, the right side points are closed, and the current is flowing through the coil and through the wire 48, then through 46 and through 49 to the spring 34, and through the right point 36 to point 29, and through the arm 28 and then through the wire 52 to ground. As the cam rotates, the rubbing block 44 on the left side goes down the shoulder. The points close on the left side. The right side is still closed and the current can flow through both left and right side points. After the left side points close, the rubbing block 45 starts up the right shoulder, and the points on the right side open and then as they go on over the right shoulder they go down the shoulder and start to close. But just before they close, the rubbing block 44 on the left side has started the shoulder and the spring 34 hits against the stop 37 and points 36 and 29 open breaking the circuit causing magnetic field of coil to collapse which causes a current to be induced into the secondary of the coil causing the coil to fire.

Then, the shoulder moves one or two degrees and the rubbing block 44 on the left side moves the arm 28 and the spring 34 away from the stop 37 on the right side so as to cause the points 36 and 29 to close.

As the rubbing block 44 reaches the top of the shoulder on the left side the parts will be back in the posi tion as in Figure l.

The purpose of having the stops 37 adjustable is so that the-point opening can be set to any determined width.

The parts such as the bushings can be made of metal or a suitable plastic. The member 34 may be of one piece spring material which has a tension on the points 29 on the arm 28 which keeps the points closed. Unless opened by being moved against the stops 37, the current enters through 46, then through 49 to 34, to the points 36 to points 29, to the arm 28 and then to ground.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

I claim:

1,. In a vehicle ignition electrical distributor, a hollow housing including a bottom wall and a top member, a shaft extending through said bottom wall, a cam positioned in said housing and mounted in said shaft, said cam being provided with a plurality of angularly arranged fiat faces defining shoulders therebetween, a pivot post connected to said bottom wall, an insulated bushing mounted on said pivot post, a support member mounted on said bushing, a pair of angularly arranged arms extending from said support member, contacts on the ends of said arms, an elongated rod connecting said arms together, a base member including a pair of spaced apart spring members connected by a web portion, stop members adjustably connected to the bottom wall of the housing, the ends of the spring members projecting beyond the ends of the arms and mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said stop members, contacts carried by said spring members for selectively engaging the contacts on said arms; first and second spaced apart insulated blocks connecting said arms and spring members together, each of said blocks being provided with a projection for engagement by said cam, a pin extending through said first block, and a conductor strip connecting said last named pin to the web portion of said base member.

2. In a vehicle ignition electrical distributor, a hollow housing, a shaft extending through said housing, a cam positioned in said housing and mounted on said shaft, said cam being provided with a plurality of angularly arranged fiat faces defining shoulders therebetween, a pivot post connected to said housing, a support member mounted on said post, a pair of angularly arranged arms extending from said support member, contacts on the ends of said arms, a base member including a pair of spaced apart spring members, stop members adjustably connected to the housing, the ends of the spring members projecting beyond the ends of the arms and mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said stop members, contacts carried by said spring members for selectively engaging the contacts on said arms; spaced apart insulated blocks connecting said arms and spring members together, each of said blocks being provided with a projection for engagement by said earn, a pin extending through one of said blocks and a conductor strip connecting said last named pin to said base member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 800,418 Varley Sept. 26, 1905 1,020,522 Stiles Mar. l9, 1912 1,767,636 Wilhjelm June 24, 1930 2,844,683 Maciszewski et a1. July 22, 1958 

